Fast-food worker's threat to 'bite face off' armed garda

An armed garda was punched in the ribs by a young man who threatened to "kill him and bite his face off" after he searched him for drugs.

Jordan Joyce (20) also assaulted the officer's colleague by kicking him on the left leg.

He further threatened to "knife" the two gardai and said he would "get them the next time I see them". Swords District Court heard fast food worker Joyce had "panicked" and "lost his temper".

Judge Dermot Dempsey ordered a probation report and said Joyce should pay €2,000 compensation to the gardai.

Joyce, of Jugback Green, Swords, admitted possession of drugs, assaulting Gda David Smith and obstruction of Gda James Carolan. Judge Dempsey said it was an "absolute disgrace" that Joyce was not charged with assaulting Gda Carolan, who was off work for two weeks after the incident.

"If it was Joe Bloggs off the street there'd be an assault charge, but apparently gardai are not entitled to the same level of protection," he said.

Smell

Gda Carolan was on armed patrol in Swords at around 8.30pm on August 20 last year when he encountered a group of youths at St Cronan's Close.

He said he spoke to Joyce, detected a strong smell of cannabis and told him he was going to search him.

Joyce emptied his pockets, and the garda found a grinder and a cannabis joint, worth €5.

Gda Carolan said Joyce became very aggressive towards him, returned the items to his pocket and punched him twice on the left side of his rib cage.

The garda was armed, so he protected his weapon and raised his arm to push Joyce away.

Joyce tried to swing at him, and Gda Carolan called on Gda Smith to help. Gda Smith tried to grab Joyce's arms, but he kicked him in the leg. He was shouting at gardai: "I'll kill you, I'll bite your face off."

Gda Carolan said a relative of Joyce tried to calm him but he remained aggressive.

He struggled as he was placed in a patrol car, tried to spit at gardai and had to be restrained.

Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy said Joyce had apologised for his behaviour.